YWCA St. Paul Launches 2022 Stand Against Racism Challenge

The Stand Against Racism Challenge is a national initiative of YWCA USA. Developed by YWCA Greater Cleveland (and previously known as the 21-Day Racial Equity and Social Justice Challenge), YWCA St. Paul first offered the Challenge in 2020, localizing content for our community and working to expand the impact of this unique learning opportunity.
 
The Stand Against Racism Challenge is designed to create dedicated time and space to build more effective social justice habits, particularly those dealing with issues of race, power, privilege, and leadership. Participation in an activity like this helps us to discover how racial injustice and social injustice impact our community, to connect with one another, and to identify ways to dismantle racism and other forms of discrimination.
 

Many individuals and organizations are continuing to look for ways to further their understanding of racism and equity and to drive positive change that helps eliminate systemic racism. Register on or before June 6, as we launch the Challenge – an email series designed to support efforts to Stand Against Racism.

In the daily email participants will receive curated articles, podcasts, videos and activities focusing on topics such as civic engagement, economic opportunity and security, education, health care, and representation in media delivered to their inbox. Taking part in an activity like this helps participants discover how racial inequity and social injustice impact a community, while connecting with others and identifying ways to work against racism and other forms of discrimination.

“While our country has struggled with racism since its inception, the past two years have made the impact of racial inequity on communities of color painfully obvious, particularly with respect to community policing policies and criminal justice, healthcare disparities, housing and education,” Gaye Adams Massey, CEO of YWCA St. Paul.  “But along with challenges come opportunities. YWCA St. Paul is pleased to continue to offer this resource to our community, and we encourage organizations and individuals to participate and examine how racism and bias impact their communities and explore how they can take action to help promote racial equity and drive change.”

Registration for the Challenge is available at: Stand Against Racism Challenge.  YWCA St. Paul is also available to help facilitate conversations for groups/organizations looking for a deeper dive into the topics and material.

Over 30,000 people from 1,800 zip codes across the country took the challenge in 2020 and it has proven a powerful tool for companies, municipalities, non-profits and religious institutions to broaden their understanding and take steps to advance change. Locally, nearly 5,000 people have taken YWCA St. Paul’s Stand Against Racism Challenge, and we are proud to offer this resource to our community and to encourage reflection on the impact of structural racism and bias and how each of us can drive change.